FIR against Bharti over domestic violence complaint

New Delhi: Delhi Police have registered an FIR against former state law minister and AAP MLA Somnath Bharti over domestic violence allegations levelled against him by his wife, Lipika Mitra.

“The FIR was registered last evening at Dwarka North police station under Sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 498(a)(cruelty towards partner in marriage) and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of IPC,” said Joint Commissioner of Police (South-West), Dependra Pathak.

The FIR comes after four attempts of mediation between the MLA and his wife failed to bear any result and Lipika insisted that the police should now take action against the AAP legislator.

A court had on July 7 dismissed an anticipatory bail plea moved by Bharti saying the application was premature since no FIR had been lodged against him.

Lipika had filed a complaint of domestic violence with the Delhi Commission for Women on June 10 alleging that her husband had been abusing her ever since their marriage in 2010. She had also given a complaint to police in this regard.

When contacted, Lipika today said that she was not yet aware of the FIR against Bharti.

“I have not yet heard from police and am not aware that an FIR has been filed on the basis of my complaint,” she said.